Starter Kit for Faculty New to BYU

Welcome to Brigham Young University from the BYU Faculty Center! The following links to useful web sites have been organized to help smooth your relocation to BYU and Utah Valley. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact the Faculty Center by phone (801-422-7419) or e-mail (faculty_center@byu.edu).

First Things First

Web Sites to Explore Even Before You Arrive

Brigham Young University
BYU Home Page	Be sure to check out "About BYU" and the "Faculty and Staff" pages.
Map of BYU	BYU main campus.
On-line Campus Tour	Learn about BYU's campus, buildings, and history.
NewsNet	BYU's award-winning online news site contains information from BYU's newspaper (The Daily Universe), television station (KBYU-TV), and radio program (KBYU-FM News), and content developed specifically for the Web.
BYU Magazine	This is the BYU alumni magazine. It contains news, profiles, calendars, interviews, and features about BYU. The online site also includes a live BYU webcam.
BYU Human Resources	Benefits, wellness programs, disabilities, and risk management.
Utah and Utah Valley
Utah State	The official web site for Utah includes information about living, working, learning, and visiting the state.
Official Travel Site for the State of Utah	This well-organized site contains information on everything fun and interesting to do in Utah.
Utah County	The official Utah Valley web site includes information for residents, visitors, and businesses.
Utah Valley Visitor's Guide	Utah Valley facts, transportation, accommodations, calendar of events, attractions, dining, shopping, and photos.
Provo City	Geographical and climate information, housing, culture, and other facts about Provo.
Orem City	Geographical and climate information, housing, culture, and other facts about Orem.
Provo Police Department	Provo Police Department web site.
Community Oriented Policing (COP)	Community Oriented Policing is a program is designed to help police officers work with members of the community to improve quality of life.
Weather	Local weather forecasts.
Churches in Utah	Meeting locations for Assembly of God, Baptist, Calvary Chapel, Catholic, Christian Science, Church of Christ, Church of God In Christ, LDS Church, Community of Christ (RLDS), Community Church, Episcopal Church, Evangelical Free, Judaism, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, First Apostolic, First Unitarian, and Scientology.
LDS Church Meetinghouse Locater	Locate LDS wards by city and zip code. Lists meeting times.
Utah Education Utah Education Network School Districts Alpine School District Provo School District Nebo School District	Information about local institutions of higher education as well as education statistics for Utah County. Utah Valley school district home pages.
Health Care Utah Valley Regional Medical Center Orem Community Hospital Timpanogos Regional Hospital American Fork Hospital Health for the Community Utah Co. Health Dept.	Local health care facilities for the Intermountain Health Care (IHC) and the MountainStar Healthcare Networks as well as a link to the Utah Valley Health Department which contains information about immunizations and general area health care.
Moving to Utah
Moving to Utah: Your On-line Guide	Information about obtaining a driver's license, registering your vehicle, taxes and fees, maps of Utah and important phone numbers.
DataMasters.com	A wealth of resources on moving: information, tips, cost calculators, cost of living, finding a home, etc. (click on "Salary/Cost-of-Living Data").
Housing	These links contain information about renting or buying a home in Utah.
Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service	This site provides a searchable property listing service for Utah with pictures and detailed descriptions
Relocate America Utah	This site contains basic information about Utah and has a Utah Community Directory that tells a little about each city and provides various housing listings to search.
Rental Housing	This site allows you to specify your relocation preferences by indicating an area (i.e. zipcode, city, or state) with price ranges, number of bedrooms, baths, or other considerations (i.e. pets, pool, etc.)
Temporary Homes	This is a leading internet-based directory that lists services for academics temporarily offering or searching for temporary home exchanges, home rentals and house sitting opportunities worldwide.
On-campus Housing	On-campus housing may be available for international faculty.
*Temporary Lodging* Utah Valley Hotels & C ampgrounds	Local lodging options, including addresses and telephone numbers for local hotels and campgrounds.

When You Arrive in Utah Valley

Utah Driver's License	How to obtain a Utah driver's license.
Register Your Vehicle	Where to go, what to bring, safety inspection and emissions certificates. Note: Faculty must register their vehicles in Utah as required by State law. Faculty parking permits will not be issued to vehicles with out-of-state plates. Emissions compliance: Vehicles registered in areas that do not require an emissions program meeting Utah County requirements will need to pass an emissions test.
Public Transportation	UTA Bus and TRAX (Utah's light rail transportation system). (BYU has a one-year contract with UTA that allows students to ride UTA buses and the SLC TRAX system by showing their student I.D. cards with a UTA sticker, which is valid May 1 through April 30, 2004. BYU employees can purchase the UTA stickers through an annual payroll deduction of $60. As with students, employees need to register in through Route Y. Employees can obtain stickers at the Employee Benefits Office in C-240 ASB.)
Voter Registration	Registration form, voter requirements, and additional information.
*Newspapers* Daily Herald Deseret News Salt Lake Tribune	The Daily Herald is the local Utah Valley newspaper. The Deseret News is a state-wide newspaper based in Salt Lake City, owned by the LDS Church (the "Church News" comes with the Saturday edition and cannot be purchased separately). The Tribune is also a state-wide newspaper based in Salt Lake City. It has the largest circulation in Utah.
*Public Libraries* Provo Orem	The Provo library is housed in the newly-renovated historic BYU Academy building. The Orem library has a larger collection.

When You Arrive at BYU

Checklist for New Faculty	The checklist you received (or will receive) from AAVP Richard Williams' office is the most important one you'll need before you start work. Be sure to complete this first. (For additional copies email a request to betty_gomez@byu.edu.)
BYU Parking Office	Information about parking permits, including temporary parking permits, and campus maps that show where to park.
Benefits	The Benefits Office has information about faculty benefits, including insurance and retirement plans.
Campus Tours	Sign up to take a guided motor tour of the BYU main campus. Your family will love this experience.
University Electronic Handbook	Includes: Policies and Procedures, BYU Organization, and University Calendar. (You must be able to log into Route-Y to access this.)

Getting Situated in Your Department

Questions for Your Chair	A list of questions to stimulate your thinking. Your chair and/or other knowledgeable colleagues should be able to answer the questions that pique your interest.
Questions Your Department Secretary	A list of things your department secretary may be able to answer for you.
Office Supply Checklist	A list to help you determine whether you need any additional office supplies.
Academic Calender	BYU's Academic Calender lists all the important university dates throughout the semester. Includes dates for the next few years as well.
Teaching Tips	A well-organized, comprehensive list of teaching tips.
Online Teacher Development Course	This online course provides an overview of teaching and learning topics, including: Learning Theory, Course Design, Classroom Management, Active Learning, Inclusive Teaching, and Assessment Strategies. You must register to use this site.

Resources for BYU Faculty

BYU Home Page (Under "Faculty and Staff")	Most of the campus resources used by faculty are organized under the "Faculty and Staff" section of the BYU Home Page.
Faculty Center	Check the Faculty Center web site to find additional information and resources for Teaching, Scholarship (Research), and Citizenship. The Faculty Center also houses a excellent library of books and articles available for checkout (see below), including several good books written specifically for new faculty.
Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)	The Center for Teaching and Learning (formerly the Center for Instructional Design) is focused on assisting faculty and departments in improving teaching and learning. Faculty can contact the CTL to discuss any part of the teaching process, get advice, and/or get useful books, articles or other resources on a wide variety of subjects related to improving teaching.
Blackboard	Blackboard is a web service that allows instructors to add an online component to their classes or even teach their entire course online.
The "Education for Eternity" Collection	This is a collection of resources addressing the relationship between higher education and the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is maintained by the Faculty Center.
Recommended Reading for Teaching and Enhancing Student Learning	The Faculty Center's recommended reading includes some of the best books ever written to help faculty learn to teach effectively. These are all available for check-out from the Faculty Center.
Recommended Reading for Scholarly Writing and Publishing	These books are available for check-out at the Faculty Center library.
Recommended Reading for Advice for New Faculty	These books are available for check-out at the Faculty Center library.
New Faculty FAQ	This is currently under development. (If you have questions you think should be addressed, please send them to jane_birch@byu.edu)